I'm in the UK now but still use my Thai bank via mobile app for certain transactions and get the SMS alerts when I need to verify who I am, and I guess this is the main issue. My SIM and bank account are both in my name.

I'll just wait and see what happens. I was about to top up the bank account but I'm not doing that until I know whether it's going to work or not.

I doubt the SMS code will work from here so I'm not even going to bother.

3 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Guess that depends on how much you follow the news, and what sources you follow. UK still running almost 100 COVID deaths per week:

 

Surge in Covid cases prompt fears of a mini-wave

Proportion of people testing positive for the virus has jumped from 4.6 per cent to 7.1 per cent in the space of a week

May 2, 2024

 

https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/surge-covid-cases-prompt-fears-mini-wave-3037684?ITO=newsnow

 

NHS in England facing ‘storm of pressure’ as flu and Covid cases surge

Average of 3,631 patients in hospital with Covid during Christmas week, data shows, a rise of 57% in a month

 

Dec. 2023

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/dec/29/nhs-england-storm-of-pressure-flu-covid-cases-surge

 

 

UKHSA current info:

 

 

https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/

 

 

That's one onliine news source and a Guardian article from December. I'll stick to my views. I won't requote your other post but I did state how most people feel when they have covid. I didn't mention hospitalisations or deaths. I was in hospital with flu pre-covid and I felt awful but my two covid bouts were pretty mild.

I did know that you'd be the one replying to my posts as you seem to be one of few posters that still takes covid seriously....and there's nothing wrong with that, it's not a dig. We all have our own viewpoints.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

This trend mirrors situations in other countries like Singapore, the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, and France, driven by new variants from the KP lineage (e.g., KP.1, KP.2, KP.3).

But is there any hysteria in any of those countries? It hardly gets a mention in the UK and certailnly doesn't make mainstream news. 

Yes, people still get covid but for most people it's slightly worse than a typical cold but nowhere near as bad as flu.

So, what happened to the feasibility study for the light rail system carried out a few years ago? Same route was mooted and they even got as far as a public meeting if I remember rightly 

7 hours ago, loong said:

 

 

What on earth does that mean?

Just a typo: else should read was. 

Pretty easy to work out but I should have proofread, and considering that I write and read contracts for a living I have given myself a slap on the wrist!

The Phuket VFS office for Italy is open daily so, unlike some countries, there's no additional charge for using the Phuket office.

I don't know how easy a process it is but my partner is applying tomorrow. However as her application is only for a five day break for when she's in the UK (for which she has a ten year visa) her case isn't going to be the same as most others.

I'm in Thailand now for a short time, having been back in Britain for over two years, and I have realised how much I miss the place. 

However much I miss it though, I won't be returning full time, even if my pension, when I finally retire, will go a lot further in Thailand. Bureaucracy, the way farangs are treated differently and, yes discriminated against, the stifling heat I'm currently experiencing, language difficulties (my fault for not learning anything other than basic Thai), the changing demographic in Phuket, where I was based, pollution, the cost of health insurance. I could go on but other aspects have been covered in the initial post. 

Despite this, I still anticipate being a regualar visitor on a tourist visa with travel insurance. My partner is still in Thailand but our daughter is with me in England, where career prospects are so much better than in Thailand. She already earns more in a day as a part time waitress than many Thais earn in a week. And, apart from property, there's not that much differential in the cost of living.

A provincial Governor should be someone who knows the province, not someone brought in from outside, and the best way to ensure this if for a proper election.

Also, if an appinted governor upsets the status quo, it's easy to get him(or in very rare cases her) moved to another province, something that couldn't happen with an elected governor. 

Unlikely to happen under the current regime as this will give too much power to the progressive parties in many provinces.

Be careful with dowries. My GF "lent" her nephew 100,000 baht and 10 baht of gold for what was supposed to be for show only. 

The in-laws returned the 100,000 baht but took a shine to the gold and it's not been seen since. This was four years ago and still causes friction in the family. My partner still wants it back, for obvious reason, but none of the other family members will take any responsibility.

The price of face in this country! 

Note to self: wait until next month to start hacking into Thai company's bank accounts.

Whilst appreciating the attempt at alliteration, the word rabid is hardly appropriate.

1 hour ago, kingstonkid said:

I can remember a few years back when Thais got arrested because they showed a pic on Facebook

 

There are things they can do.

 

First, give the police a mandate to charge and arrest anyone drinking and driving. PERIOD

Then take away their cars in a lot.

 

Also, and this will upset many Farang, the rules about hours of service and selling alcohol should be changed. Any restaurant or bar that sells beer before 12 should be charged and closed.

 

Can't argue with your first point but when the legal selling time is 11am, not quite so sure about the second, especially in tourist areas, where many Scandinavians are fond of a beer with breakfast!

Wow, global hub of festivals! Woodstock, Glastonbury, Isle of Wight all off to Thailand. Enough to make me return!

The problem is they'll probably have a rule that 51% of the acts have to be Thai.

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Political unrest and geopolitical conflicts worldwide have propelled the Thailand Privilege Card’s membership count to a staggering 3,871, according to the card’s operator.

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Out of 36,397 card members,

????????

1 hour ago, rwill said:

Yes.  Better to keep it quiet. 

No chance, and miss the photo opportunity with a wall of banknotes? Real or fake?

The old "crackdowns" that went a bit quiet during covid appearing again. As usual brought about by one isolated incident. I've known many people using this route ( I did myself several years ago) but not known any that have had problems. 

It is illegal but as is often the case in Thailand, a two week hit then forgotten about....until another incident makes the headlines!